ABC’s plan is to air the remaining four completed episodes before a winter hiatus, with the show returning in the spring with a new showrunner and a new attitude. While the rumored issues on set between the writers and the producers is certainly an issue that needs to be resolved, there are plenty of things with the mixed tones of the show that must be fixed if ABC expects a real hit on their hands. Here are a few suggestions for the creative team to keep in mind when they retool the comedy series for its spring relaunch.

Drop the showbiz cynicism.

The original version of The Muppet Show was also a backstage comedy. In that sense, The Muppets, which takes place behind-the-scenes at Miss Piggy’s late-night talk show, follows in its footsteps. But the original series had more of a sketch-based premise, and its behind-the-scenes moments was more about the wacky goings-on (particularly with its confused guest stars, who had to play straight alongside bouncing puppets). The new version makes the process of putting together a TV show to be a big, annoying chore. I’m sure it is a chore, but come on: no one wants to watch the Muppets not have fun. Let’s harness the joy of the original show by seeing the Muppets actually enjoying themselves once again.

Stop relying on our nostalgia for a sure-fire hit.

We get it, Hollywood: it’s a whole lot easier to rehash the old stuff we loved. I mean, that’s why we’re getting a third Spider-Man franchise, there’s a another Heroes series on the air, and naturally, the reason why we are having this difficult conversation about The Muppets. While the nostalgia business can be a profitable one, it’s also very easy to completely misfire — and to reincarnate a beloved media property and turn it into something that doesn’t resemble what we loved about it in the first place. The Muppets are already hip — there’s no need to make them more subversive. After all, the spin-off success of The Muppet Babies has, for better or worse, associated them with our childhood. It’s very hard to break those warm and fuzzy feelings that seeing Kermit and Co. bring to our hearts.

Cool it with the faux-'Office' conceit.

Photos: NBC, ABC

Look: The original British iteration of The Office was quite brilliant (even if it introduced the world to the oftentimes grating Ricky Gervais). The American adaptation made a star out of Steve Carell, whose smarmy and incompetent Michael Scott achieved what Gervais’ David Brent couldn’t do: he made us like him. And the show, which lasted nine seasons, was revolutionary in that it brought the mockumentary genre to the small screen (and spawned Parks and Recreation). But it’s a difficult conceit to really pull off, and The Muppets’ employment of the faux-documentary

Tell Kermit to dump his side-piece already.

Photo: ABC

With all respect to Denise, Kermit’s new girlfriend: go away. We are defiantly happy with Kermit and Miss Piggy’s union and don’t need a new felt pig to help us learn about heartbreak, jealousy, and cross-species dating. And WE HATE CHANGE. Get Kermit and Piggy back together, please.